Reel adapter for tie material and method of using same

ABSTRACT

An adapter is provided consisting of a tubular center section and a pair of circular flange sections at each end of the tubular center section. One of the flanges is removable so that coils of tie material such as string, cord, wire, or plastic or paper covered wire and the like can be placed on the adapter and the flange replaced. The tube is segmented circumferentially and can be expanded to tightly engage the inside surface of the coil. One of the flanges floats axially on the adapter and is resiliently biased in the direction of the other flange to tightly engage the side surfaces of the wound up coil.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and means for holding coils ofelongated tie material and more particularly to a reel adapter of thetype which can be partially disassembled for replacing or removing coilsor reels of wound material thereupon.

.[.THE PRIOR ART.].

In recent years tie ribbon, much of which is manufactured from wireembedded in plastic, has been used on an ever increasing scale for tyingpackages such as bread bags. Previously, tie material or ribbon of thiskind was stored on unitary spools which consist of a tube having twocircular flanges, one connected permanently to each end of the tube.These spools in addition to being expensive produce a handling problemand the accumulation of large numbers of used spools produces a disposalproblem. The reels previously used required the end flanges to hold thecoils of tie material securely and prevent them from becoming unraveledor collapsing. Now it has been found possible to use a tubular spoolwith no end flanges or in some cases an entirely spoolless coil of tieribbon by twisting the ribbon periodically during the winding operationto make a more secure coil and to render the coil stable. Thus, bytwisting the tie ribbon at each edge of the coil or cylinder of woundmaterial it can be rendered relatively stable as will be understood bythose skilled in the art. This system of winding which has been used inthe textile industry can be thought of as a twist winding system.However, even though quite stable, the wound coils or cylinders of tiematerial can still become misshaped or unravel when unwound. Moreover,when unwound, the coil of material must be held with a constantfrictional drag to resist the unwinding force applied by the tension onthe length of material being unwound. Thus a problem found in thedevelopment of the present invention is that spools must be securelyengaged to provide the proper frictional drag. However, the engagementof the adapter with the inside surface of the coil can interfere withthe engagement or retention of the flat side surfaces of the coil asrequired to prevent the coil from falling apart or collapsing.

Thus, one phase of the present invention concerns the provision of anexpandable means for engaging the inside cylindrical surface of the coilbut because of the slight variations in the thickness of the coil fromone flat surface to the other, the tightening of the adapter for thepurpose of frictionally engaging the inside surface of the coil couldalso press the end flanges too tightly against the wound coil preventinginterior engagement. Therefore, there is a need to securely and firmlyhold the flat end flanges against the flat corresponding surfaces of thewound coil of material to prevent the coil from falling apart orbecoming unraveled while at the same time firmly engaging the insidecylindrical surface of the coil so that it will not be free to rotate onthe adapter and the adapter can consequently be utilized to apply acontrolled frictional drag as material is unwound.

OBJECTS

The major objects are to provide an adapter in the nature of a spoolwhich (a) can be disassembled i.e., can be separated into parts for themounting or removal of coils of wound material, (b) includes a means forengaging a coil of wound tie material on each of its flat end surfaces,(c) is capable of being used for supporting coils of wound tie materialwhich are both spoolless or contain an interior tubular spool withoutends, (d) includes a provision for firmly engaging the flat ends of thewound coil and applying a predetermined pressure to the flat ends of thecoil to prevent the coil from collapsing or some winds on the coil fromslipping off the end, (e) a provision for engaging the central portionof the adapter to the inside cylindrical surface of the coil to preventthe coil from turning on the adapter, (f) the provision of an expandablecollet of cylindrical shape for engaging the inside surface of the coilof wound material when expanded to retain the coil in place on theadapter and prevent it from rotating with respect to the adapter, (g) aprovision for tightening the collet when the flange used for engagingone surface of the coil is moved toward the other flange and a furtherprovision for allowing the flanges at the ends of the adapter to remaina fixed distance apart, one floating as the collet is expanded to engagethe inside surface of the coil to thereby .[.accomodate.]..Iadd.accommodate .Iaddend.coils of different widths.

THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevational view of an adapter embodying theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the adapter when assembled as seenfrom the left end of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

SUMMARY OF THE .[.INVENION.]. .Iadd.INVENTION .Iaddend.

The invention provides a reel adapter and method for supporting andengaging a reel or coil of tie material such as a cord or wire tieribbon. The adapter comprises a .Iadd.tube having about it a.Iaddend.tubular body member and a pair of flat parallel axially spacedflanges extending normal to the tube. A fastening means is provided toremovably secure one of the flanges to the tube so that the coil of tiematerial can be placed on the adapter and the flange replaced andsecured in position on the .[.tubular body.]. .Iadd.tube.Iaddend.. It isnot critical where the separation is made between the tube .Iadd.(plusthe tubular body member about it) .Iaddend.and the flange. In onepreferred form of the invention, for example, the flange separates fromthe .Iadd.tube and a .Iaddend.tubular body section of the adapter at theend of the tube adjacent the center of the flange. It is, however,possible to have a portion of the tube .Iadd.and tubular body member.Iaddend.connected to the flange so that when the flange is removed thatportion of the tube .[.is.]. .Iadd.and tubular body member are.Iaddend.also removed. In other words, the point of removal of theflange need not be located exactly at the junction between the flangeand the .Iadd.tube and the .Iaddend.tubular body .[.section.]..Iadd.member.Iaddend.. .Iadd.

Preferably, the fastening means for the removable flange consistsessentially of matingly threaded parts between the assembly of theremovable flange, that is the removable flange assembly, and theremaining structure of the adapter; and fastening is accomplished bymanual threaded rotation of the entire removable flange assembly withrespect to the remaining assembly or structure of the adapter. .Iaddend.

In a preferred form of the invention, the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular bodymember .Iaddend.includes .Iadd.(i.e., a portion functions as) .Iaddend.ameans for engaging the coil to prevent the coil from turning on the.[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body member.Iaddend.. This is preferablyaccomplished by forming .Iadd.a portion of .Iaddend.the .[.tube.]..Iadd.tubular body member .Iaddend.in sections which are capable ofbeing moved outwardly against the inside surface of the coil or spool incase one is used. One preferred .[.form.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.of.[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body member .Iaddend.includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots which divide.Iadd.the portion of .Iaddend.the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body member.Iaddend.up into segments that are free at one end. In this form of theinvention, .Iadd.a portion of .Iaddend.the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular bodymember .Iaddend.can be thought of as an expandable collet the free endsof which are engagable with a corresponding mating surface of a colletexpander that is associated with a removable flange. .Iadd.Statedanother way, the tubular body member in this form of the inventioncomprises an expandable collet having a plurality of longitudinallyextending circumferentially spaced segments with notches between them,the segments being free at one end and integrally connected at the otherend, and a collet expanding means operatively associated with the freeends of the segments to press the segments outward when the removableflange is moved in the direction of the other flange. .Iaddend.Theremovable flange is capable of moving along the axis of the tube andwhen so moved in the direction of the opposite flange, the colletexpander will engage the free ends of the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.collet.Iaddend.segments thereby spreading them outwardly into contact with thecoil or spool.

Also in a preferred form of the invention at least one of the flanges isfloating and is resiliently urged in the direction of the other flangeto thereby tightly press against the flat side surfaces of the coil whenthe adapter is assembled. .Iadd.

Additional features and relationships between flangeless coils of tieribbon and the adapter, both from the standpoint of the method ofsupporting flangeless coils of tie ribbon on the adapter for a bag tyingoperation as well as from the apparatus standpoint where the flangelesscoils and adapter are upon the bag typing machine shaft, will be evidentas this description proceeds. .Iaddend.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the Figures, an adapter in accordance with the invention isdesignated generally by the numeral 10. The adapter is composed of threemajor functional components comprising a left hand removable flange 12,a centrally located .Iadd.tube having about it a .Iaddend.tubular bodyportion 14 and a right hand fixed flange 16. .Iadd.(The most radiallyouter surface structure about tube section 28 is the tubular bodyportion 14. The "body" portion 14 is substantially cylindrical andcoaxial about the tube 28.) .Iaddend.During use, as seen in FIG. 3 acoil of tie material such as plastic coated tie ribbon 18 is mountedupon the adapter with the left hand flange 12 abutting against onesurface of the coil and the right hand flange 16 in contact with theother surface. The coil 18 is in this instance shown wound upon a rigidspool or core 20 which provides a certain amount of support before thecoil 18 is put in place on the adapter. It will be seen that the insidesurface of the core 20 is in contact with the outer surface of thetubular body .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.14.

The flanges 12 and 16 are both circular as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Flange16 is rigidly secured as by welding to a flange hub 22 which is providedwith a central bore 24 adapted to slide readily onto a shaft 26 ofsupporting machinery such as a tying machine of any known construction.The shaft 26 will normally be either 171 rotated by a motor (not shown)or.]. allowed to rotate with a certain predetermined degree offrictional resistance so that as the tie material of the coil 18 isunwound, the shaft 26 acting through the adapter 10 will exert apredetermined degree of resistance to the unwinding force exerted on thetie material.

The flange hub includes a threaded tube section 28 which is threaded at30 adjacent its free end, the end furthest from the flange 16.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tubular body section .Iadd.14 .Iaddend.isprovided with a bore 32 of just the appropriate size to slide easilyonto the threaded tube 28. It also includes a transverse bore 34 throughwhich a set screw 36 extends to hold the tubular body .Iadd.section 14.Iaddend.on the .[.tubular.]. .Iadd.tube .Iaddend.portion 28 of the hub22. The set screw 36 extends all the way to the central bore 24 and whentightened will lock the tube 28 .[.and the entire.]..Iadd., plus theother parts of the .Iaddend.adapter 10 .Iadd.located to the right ofline 60 in FIG. 1, .Iaddend.to the shaft 26. The tubular body section 14is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extendingcircumferentially spaced slots 38 that divide it into longitudinallyextending segments which by virtue of the resiliency of the materialfrom which the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section 14 .Iaddend.is madeare able to expand outwardly at times as will be described below. Thefree ends of the segments of the tubular body .Iadd.section .Iaddend.14between slots 38 are internally beveled at 40 with the bevel precedingcentrally, i.e. toward the axis of the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular bodysection 14 .Iaddend.in the direction of the fixed ends of the .[.tube.]..Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.segments separated by the slot 38. These segmentscan thus be moved at times outwardly against the inner surface of thecoil making the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section .Iaddend.14expandable. The .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section .Iaddend.14 canthus be thought of as an expandable collet.

Mounted just to the left of the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section.Iaddend.14 is a collet expander 42 having a conical expander surface 44on its right end concentric with the center thereof and of the properdiameter and angular orientation to mate with the conical surface 40 ofthe .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section .Iaddend.14 so as to expandthe segments of the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section 14.Iaddend.between slots 38 outwardly as the expander 42 is moved towardthe right in the Figures. .Iadd.It should be noted that this annularpiece, here labeled "collet expander", is illustratively of a properouter diameter so that it may--as discussed in the first paragraph under"SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION" and also as recited in claim 1below--comprise part of the total composite tubular body member of theadapter. The composite tubular body member is a "bodying" massexhibiting a generally cylindrical outer surface formed by the outerdiameter axially extending surface of the expander 42 and the tubularbody section 14. .Iaddend.The expander is provided with a centrallongitudinally extending threaded bore 46 which is threaded upon thescrew threads 30 when the adapter is assembled. The expander includeslongitudinally extending exterior slot 48 and a circumferentiallyextending slot 50 for a spring clip 52.

The circular flange 12 at the left is rigidly secured as by welding to aflange hub 54 having a tubular axially extending spring cover 54'.Inside the cover 54' is a helical compression spring 56 which abuts atits left end as shown in FIG. 3 against a washer 58 that is held inplace on the collet expander by the spring clip 52 and presses at itsright end against the inside surface 61 of the hub 54. As seen best inFIG. 3, a pin 62 is mounted in a radially extending bore of the flangehub so that its inner end is slidably engaged within the slot 48 toprevent the spring cover 54' and flange 12 from turning on the colletexpander 42 so that the spring cover 54' can be used as a handle inassembling and disassembling the adapter.

The manner in which the invention is used will now be described. Toassemble the adapter, the tubular body .Iadd.section .Iaddend.14 is slidonto the threaded tube 28 after removing set screw 36. The set screw isthen replaced through bore 34 and the right hand or fixed flange 16 and.[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section .Iaddend.14 now held in place byset screw 36 is placed on the shaft 26. The set screw 36 is thentightened against shaft 26 to secure .Iadd.all parts of .Iaddend.theadapter .Iadd.located to the right of line 60 in FIG. 1 .Iaddend.inplace on the shaft.

The left hand or removable portion of the adapter is assembled by themanufacturer by sliding the collet expander 42 into the flange hub 54,.Iadd.thereby providing a projecting axis centered annular structure onflange 12, then .Iaddend.introducing spring 56 into the cover 54' andassembling the washer 58 and spring clip 52 on the expander 42. The pin62 is then inserted far enough so that its inner end extends into slot48. Thus, all of the parts to the right of line 60 in FIG. 1 willnormally be assembled and handled as a single component. Likewise, theparts to the left of line 60 will be assembled and will normally remainassembled and handled as a single unit. When a coil 18 is to be placedon the adapter, the cover 54' is grasped manually and the hub 54 andflange 12 are turned about the central axis of the adapter therebyunscrewing the expander 42 from the screw threads 30 of the threadedtube 28 allowing the flange 12, the hub 54 and the expander 42 to beremoved. The coil 18 either with or without the core 20 is then placedon .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular body section .Iaddend. 14 so that its righthand surface abuts against the inner surface of the flange 16. Theremovable flange and its associated parts are then replaced on thethreads 30 and the cover 54' is turned manually in a clockwise directionso as to tighten the collet expander on the threads until the conicalspreading surface 44 engages the mating conical surface 40 of the collet14 which then expands thereby forcing the segments of the .[.tube.]..Iadd.collet .Iaddend.14 between the slots 38 outwardly into firmfrictional engagement with the inner surface of the coil 18 or core 20as the .[.cast.]. .Iadd.case .Iaddend.may be. .Iadd.(To be noted is thatthe screw threaded parts of both the fixed and removable assemblies aremating cooperatively threaded structures which circumscribe the line ofthe axis of shaft 26.) .Iaddend.As the unit is being assembled in thismanner, the inner surface of the flange 12 will engage the mating flatside surface of the coil 18 and as the expander 42 continues to turn onthreads 30, the engagement between the coil 18 and the flange 12 willforce the flange 12 and the hub 54 back i.e., toward the left againstthe spring 56 which thus functions to resiliently urge the flange andhub against the coil 18. In this way, the flange 12 can be .[.though.]..Iadd.thought .Iaddend.of as a floating flange with resilient means foryieldably biasing it against the coil 18.

Thus, the invention provides a means for tightly engaging the adapterwith the inside cylindrical surface of the coil as well as the flat sidesurfaces of the coil and will .[.accomodate.]. .Iadd.accommodate.Iaddend.coils of different widths i.e., different distances between theflanges 12 and 16 since flange 12 floats on the adapter. Moreover, thespring 56 serves to provide a predetermined biasing force yieldablyretaining the flanges in contact with the sides of the coil 18regardless of its width. In addition, in spite of such variations in thesize of the coils, the collet expander 42 will reliably engage andexpand the free ends of the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.collet .Iaddend.segments asrequired to hold the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.collet segments .Iaddend.inengagement with the coil.

When the adapter is in use as shown in FIG. 2, the tie material 64 iswithdrawn and fed over suitable guides such as wheels 66 and 68 uponwhich it travels to downstream equipment such as bread bag tyingmachines or the like. .Iadd.Also evident from FIG. 2 and the foregoingdescription is the fact that, as tie material is so withdrawn as justnoted, rotation of the coil of tie material as well as rotation of theelements of the reel adapter and the shaft 26 on which it is mounted alloccur in the same rotary direction. This rotary direction is clockwiseas one views FIG. 2, and is the same direction as the aforenotedclockwise direction for the threaded fastening of the removable flange.A feature of this relationship in bag tying machine operations is thatof an inherent automatic effective yieldable biasing of any threadedlyremovable adapter flange in the direction of the other or fixed adapterflange, arising as a concommitant to the manner in which bag tyingmachine operations are conducted for bag tying. .Iaddend.The adapter canbe used with a variety of tie materials. The term " tie material" asused herein is meant to indicate any elongated flexible or non-flexibletying material such as wire embedded in strips of paper or plastic aswell as cord, twine, etc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reel adapter for supporting a coil of tiematerial, said adapter comprising a .Iadd.tube having about it a.Iaddend.tubular body member generally in the form of a cylinder, aflange member located at each end of the tubular body member, the flangemembers being parallel and oriented normal to the axis of the tube,fastening means for removably securing at least one of the flanges onthe tube so that the coil of tie material can be placed on the adapterand the removable flange replaced and said adapter having means thereonfor engaging the wound coil of tie material to the adapter to preventrotation of the tie material on the adapter, said .[.tube.]..Iadd.tubular body member .Iaddend.comprising an expandable collethaving a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spacedsegments with notches between them, the segments being free at one endand integrally connected at the other end and a collet .[.expandingmeans.]. .Iadd.expander .Iaddend.operatively associated with the freeends of the segments to press the segments outward when the removableflange is moved in the direction of the other flange.Iadd., said meansfor engaging the wound coil of tie material to the adapter comprisingsaid expandable collet of said tubular body member, .Iaddend.and theadapter includes a means .Iadd.thereupon .Iaddend.for retaining theremovable flange and collet .[.expanding means thereupon.]..Iadd.expander operably connected as a single removableassembly.Iaddend..
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the.Iadd.fastening .Iaddend.means for .[.retaining.]. .Iadd.removablysecuring .Iaddend.the .[.collet expander.]. .Iadd.removable flange.Iaddend.upon the .[.adapter.]. .Iadd.tube .Iaddend.comprises an axiallyextending screw thread connection between the .[.removable flange.]..Iadd.collet expander .Iaddend.and the .[.adapter.]. .Iadd.tube.Iaddend.whereby the removable flange and the collet expander can beunscrewed and removed .Iadd.as a single assembly .Iaddend.from the.[.adapter.]. .Iadd.tube .Iaddend.and replaced by being turned on thescrew threads in the appropriate direction to move the .Iadd.removable.Iaddend.flange and collet expander axially of the tube in the directionof the other flange until the collet expander contacts the free ends ofthe .[.tube.]. .Iadd.collet .Iaddend.segments forcing them into contactwith the inside surface of the coil to thereby securely retain the coilin place on the adapter.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein .[.a.]..Iadd.said .Iaddend.collet expander is mounted concentrically within theremovable flange, said collet expander includes a conical section at theend thereof closest to the .[.tubular body.]. .Iadd.expandablecollet.Iaddend., the free ends of the segments of the .[.tube.]..Iadd.expandable collet .Iaddend.include a conical surface and theconical surface of the collet expander is of the appropriate size andangular orientation to mate with the conical surface at the ends of the.[.tube.]. .Iadd.expandable collet .Iaddend.segments, the colletexpander having an axial bore with screw threads therein and the otherflange having a hub with .Iadd.said tube extending therefrom as.Iaddend.a central axially extending screw threaded .[.tubular.]..Iadd.tube .Iaddend.member screw threaded into the threaded bore of thecollet expander.[...]..Iadd., said fastening means for said removableflange comprising said screw threads of said axial bore of said colletexpander and said screw threaded tube member of said other flange..Iaddend.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the removable flangeincludes an axially extending spring cover, a spring mounted within thespring cover and operatively associated between the collet expander andthe .Iadd.removable .Iaddend.flange to yieldably bias the.Iadd.removable .Iaddend.flange in the direction of the other flange andto yieldably bias the collet expander away from the other flange.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein .[.operative connection.]. .Iadd.said.Iaddend.means .Iadd.for retaining the removable flange and colletexpander operably connected .Iaddend.is .[.provided.]. between theremovable flange and the collet expander .[.to allow.]. .Iadd.and allows.Iaddend.the .Iadd.removable .Iaddend.flange to slide axially of thecollet expander but .[.preventing.]. .Iadd.prevents .Iaddend.rotation ofthe .Iadd.removable .Iaddend.flange with respect to the collet expanderwhereby the collet expander can be screw threaded onto .[.the adapter.]..Iadd.said screw threaded tube member .Iaddend.by manually grasping thespring cover.
 6. A reel adapter for supporting a coil of tie material,said adapter comprising a .Iadd.tube having about it a .Iaddend.tubularbody member generally in the form of a.[.cyliner.]..Iadd.cylinder.Iaddend., a flange member located at eachend of the tubular body member, the flange members being parallel andoriented normal to the axis of the tube, fastening means for removablysecuring at least one of the flanges on the tube so that the coil of tiematerial can be placed on the adapter and the removable flange replacedand said adapter having means thereon for engaging the wound coil of tiematerial to the adapter to prevent rotation of the tie material on theadapter, one of said flanges is axially slidable .Iadd.with respect tothe tube .Iaddend.on the adapter and resilient means is provided foryieldably biasing said one flange in the direction of the other flange.7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the fastening means for said oneflange is a screw thread connector operatively associated between theremovable flange and the other flange.
 8. A reel adapter for supportinga coil of tie material, said adapter comprising a .Iadd.tube havingabout it a .Iaddend.tubular body member generally in the form of acylinder, a flange member located at each end of the tubular bodymember, the flange members being parallel and oriented normal to theaxis of the tube, fastening means for removably securing at least one ofthe flanges on the tube so that the coil of tie material can be placedon the adapter and the removable flange replaced and said adapter havingmeans thereon for engaging the wound coil of tie material to the adapterto prevent rotation of the tie material on the adapter, one of saidflanges is fixed upon the adapter and the other flange is able to floataxially of the tube and resilient means is operatively associated withthe floating flange to yieldably bias the floating flange .[.upon.]..Iadd.of .Iaddend.the adapter in the direction of the other flange.
 9. Amethod of supporting and controlling unwinding of a coil of tie materialfrom a reel adapter having a .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.portionengagable with the coil to prevent rotation of the coil thereupon and apair of flanges one of which flanges is removable, said methodcomprising, (a) placing the coil on said .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubularportion .Iaddend.such that one side surface of said coil abutts againstthe inner surface of one flange, (b) placing the removable flange on theadapter, (c) engaging the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.portion withthe coil so as to prevent rotation of the coil thereupon, (d) forcingthe inner surface of said removable flange against the opposite sidesurface of the coil, (e) yieldably biasing at least one flange intoengagement with the coil while the coil is on the adapter, and (f)thereafter unwinding the tie material from the coil while the .[.tube.]..Iadd.tubular portion .Iaddend.is thus engaged with the coil and one ofthe flanges is yieldably biased against the coil. .Iadd.
 10. In a bagtying operation, the method of supporting and controlling the withdrawalof tie ribbon from a flangeless coil structure having the tie ribbonwound in coil form with an inside surface and with the windings atopposite ends of the coil structure presenting a substantially flatsurface, said method comprising(a) forming a fixed assembly on a bagtying machine shaft means having a free end, said fixed assembly beingrotatable about the axis of said shaft means and comprising a fixedflange oriented normal to the axis of said shaft means and having itsinner surface facing the free end of said shaft means, and a screwthreaded axis-circumscribing structure oriented inwardly of said innersurface of said fixed flange, (b) placing said coil structure on saidfixed assembly with one end surface of said coil structure abuttingagainst said inner surface of said fixed flange, the other end surfaceof said coil structure being the outer end surface thereof, (c)rotatably fastening a removable flange assembly to said fixed assemblywith the inner surface of the flange of said removable flange assemblyfacing toward said fixed flange and also facing toward said outer endsurface of said coil structure, said removable flange assembly having anaxis-circumscribing structure equipped with screw threads matinglycooperative with said screw threaded structure of said fixed assembly,said rotatable fastening step consisting essentially of manuallythreadedly rotating said entire removable flange assembly onto saidscrew threaded structure of said fixed assembly to thereby move saidremovable flange assembly axially toward said fixed flange, with saidmanual threaded rotation and resulting axial movement continuing beyondmere abutting contact between said inner flange surface of saidremovable flange assembly and said outer end surface of said coilstructure, and continuing despite the fact that the rotation takes placeunder and causes increasing pressures of contact between said innerflange surface of said removable flange assembly and said outer endsurface of said coil structure, until said flanges of said assembliespressingly engage the opposite ends of said coil structure sufficientlyto prevent windings of tie ribbon from slipping off said opposite endsduring withdrawal of tie ribbon from said coil structure as well asuntil said coil structure is securely held against rotation with respectto said fixed assembly during withdrawal of tie ribbon from said coilstructure, and (d) withdrawing tie ribbon from said coil structure bydrawing said tie ribbon over guide means toward a bag tying operation ina manner effecting rotation of said assemblies and said coil structureabout the axis of said shaft means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein said rotation of said assemblies and said coilstructure during said step of withdrawing tie ribbon is in the samerotary direction as that employed in threadedly rotating said removableflange assembly during said rotatable fastening step. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The method of claim 10 wherein said rotation of said assemblies andsaid coil structure during said step of withdrawing tie ribbon isclockwise and wherein a clockwise rotation is employed in threadedlyrotating said removable flange assembly during said rotatable fasteningstep. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. The method of claim 10 additionally includingthe step of engaging the inside surface of said coil structure with ameans radially outward from said shaft means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14.Apparatus comprising a bag tying machine shaft, a reel adapter mountedon said shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft, and aflangeless coil of wound tie ribbon having an inside surface andopposing flat ends supported on said reel adapter, said reel adaptercomprising a tube member having an axial bore extending therethroughwithin which a bag tying machine shaft is receivable, said bag tyingmachine shaft being within said axial bore of said tube member, saidtube member having an outer surface structure about it which constitutesthe most radially outer surface structure along said tube member forreception within the inside surface of a flangeless coil of tie ribbon,said outer surface structure being within said inside surface of saidflangeless coil, said outer surface structure being non-rotatable withrespect to said tube member, a flange located at each end of said tubemember, said flanges being parallel and oriented normal to said axialbore of said tube member and having an inner surface facing toward saidtube member and having an axial bore aligned with said axial bore ofsaid tube member, one of said flanges being fixed nonrotatably to saidtube member, a removable flange assembly comprising the other saidflange and consisting of parts so assembled that said removable flangeassembly is manually handleable solely as a single unit in the removaland refastening of it, manually-operable fastening means for removablysecuring said removable flange assembly to said tube member in a mannersolely permitting manual removal of said entire removable flangeassembly as a single unit and the placement of a flangeless coil of tieribbon over said tube member with said outer surface structure withinthe inside surface of the flangeless coil and then the manual fasteningof said entire removable flange assembly as a single unit to said tubemember, said fastening means consisting of matingly cooperative screwthreads on said removable flange assembly and said tube member, wherebymanual threaded rotation of said entire removable flange assembly withrespect to said tube member is alone effective for fastening and removalof said removable flange assembly, said screw threads being effective tocause axial movement of said removable flange assembly toward said fixedflange during manual threaded fastening rotation of said entireremovable flange assembly, and said reel adapter being characterized bythe fact that it effectively firmly engages said flangeless coilsupported on it for trouble free withdrawal of tie ribbon therefrom in abag tying operation, said firm engagement being accomplished as a resultof manual threaded fastening rotation and axial movement of said entireremovable flange assembly beyond mere initial abutting contact of theinner surface of the flange of said removable flange assembly againstthe adjacent flat end of said flangeless coil about said tube member,the said firm engagement being effective to prevent tie ribbon fromslipping off the flat ends of said flangeless coil and effective toprevent rotation of said flangeless coil with respect to said tubemember. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 15. Apparatus comprising a bag tying machinerotatable shaft, a reel adapter fixedly mounted on said rotatable shaftfor rotation therewith, and a flangeless tie ribbon coil structureremovably mounted on said reel adapter and supported thereby forsubstantially trouble free withdrawal of tie ribbon from said coilstructure in a machine-conducted bag tying operation, wherein (a) saidcoil structure consists essentially of a tubular core member having noend flanges and having an inside cylindrical surface, and a tie ribbonwound in coil form about said tubular core member with the windings atopposite ends of the coil structure presenting a substantially flatsurface, said coil structure being a relatively stable structure forhandling as a discrete article of commerce preliminary to the placementthereof as said removably mounted structure on said reel adapter, and(b) said reel adapter consists essentially of a fixed assemblynon-rotatable with respect to said rotatable shaft and a removableassembly which permits the replacement mounting of a said coil structureupon said reel adapter quickly and in a manner for said trouble freewithdrawal of tie ribbon therefrom,(i) said fixed assembly comprising afixed circular flange member having an inner surface in firm pressingengagement against one end of said coil structure, and an engagingmember within said tubular core member of said coil structure and firmlyengaging the inside cylindrical surface of said tubular core member ofsaid coil structure in a manner preventing said coil structure fromturning on said fixed assembly, said fixed assembly having an axial boreextending therethrough within which said bag tying machine rotatableshaft extends, (ii) said removable assembly comprising a circular flangemember having an inner surface and having substantially the same flangediameter as said fixed flange member, said removable flange assemblyhaving an axial bore extending therethrough and aligned with said axialbore of said fixed assembly, said inner surface of said flange member ofsaid removable assembly being in firm pressing engagement with the endof said coil structure opposite the end thereof adjacent said flangemember of said fixed assembly, and (iii) said assemblies of said reeladapter being such that the distance between said flange members thereofcan be manually adjusted while at the same time said coil structureremovably mounted on said reel adapter is maintained engaged at its saidinside cylindrical surface by said engaging member of said fixedassembly so firmly that turning of said coil structure with respect tosaid fixed assembly is prevented by said engaging member as tie ribbonis withdrawn from said coil structure in a machine-conducted bag tyingoperation, said firm pressing engagement of said inner surfaces of saidflange members of said assemblies being such that windings of tie ribbonof said coil structure are prevented from slipping off said opposingends thereof as tie ribbon is withdrawn from said coil structure in amachine-conducted bag tying operation. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 16. In a bagtying operation, the method of supporting and controlling the withdrawalof tie ribbon from a flangeless coil structure having an inside tubularcore about which the tie ribbon is wound in coil form with the windingsat opposite ends of the coil structure presenting a substantially flatsurface, said method comprising (a) forming a fixed assembly on a bagtying machine shaft means having a free end, said fixed assembly beingrotatable about the axis of said shaft means and comprising a fixedflange oriented normal to the axis of said shaft means and having itsinner surface facing the free end of said shaft means, and a means forengaging the inside of the tubular core of said coil structure, saidengaging means being oriented inwardly of said inner surface of saidfixed flange, (b) placing said coil structure on said fixed assembly bysliding it coaxially about said shaft means until one end of said coilstructure abutts against said inner surface of said fixed flange, (c)engaging the inside of the tubular core of said coil structure with saidengaging means of said fixed assembly so firmly that said coil structureis prevented from rotating with respect to said fixed assembly duringwithdrawal of tie ribbon from said coil structure, (d) manually forcedlyand pressingly engaging the inner surface of a removable flange againstthe opposite end of said coil structure with sufficient pressure towardsaid fixed flange to prevent tie ribbon from slipping off opposite endsof said coil structure, and maintaining said pressure condition duringwithdrawal of tie ribbon from said coil structure, (e) then withdrawingtie ribbon from said coil structure, with simultaneous rotation of saidcoil structure and said assemblies all in the same rotary direction, bydrawing said tie ribbon over guide means toward a bag tying operation,(f) thereafter manually removing said removable flange with simultaneousrendering of said core of said coil structure completely accessible foreasy removal from said fixed assembly simply by sliding it with orwithout rotation axially outward away from said fixed assembly, and (g)removing said core of said coil structure by sliding it with or withoutrotation axially outward away from said fixed assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said bag tying machine shaft isrotatable and wherein said tube member is fixed upon said shaft forrotation therewith about the axis of said shaft. .Iaddend.